The Dorfbewohner in the anime Phoenix are not a single character but rather the collective community of villagers living on the so-called fire island, which is dominated by a volcano. They are introduced early in the narrative as a small, close-knit group whose lives are deeply intertwined with the land and its dangers. Their primary motivation and main concern initially is the health of one of their own, a young woman named Hinaku, who has fallen seriously ill. The village is thrown into mourning when Hinaku’s older brother perishes in a desperate attempt to capture the legendary Phoenix, as it is believed the bird’s blood can grant immortality and cure her sickness. This event illustrates the community’s willingness to pursue extreme measures, born from a place of desperation and care for their members.

As a group, the Dorfbewohner display a cautious but ultimately trusting personality. When a stranger named Guzuri washes ashore shortly after the brother’s death and claims to be a doctor, the villagers give him the chance to prove himself. Upon successfully healing Hinaku, they welcome him into their lives, allowing him to marry her and live among them. They place great trust in him, and he enjoys the favor of the entire village. This trust, however, is tragically misplaced. Guzuri is revealed to be a spy from the kingdom of Yamatai, and he exploits the villagers’ faith in him as part of a larger political scheme. Their key role in the story is therefore as tragic victims. They function as a narrative device to demonstrate the ruthless ambition of the Yamatai court and the devastating consequences of betrayal. By signaling to the approaching army of Queen Himiko, Guzuri allows General Sarutahiko to lead a massacre that results in almost all of the Dorfbewohner being killed. This brutal event serves as the primary catalyst for the actions of the survivors, Hinaku and her younger brother Nagi.

The Dorfbewohner’s most significant relationships are with these central characters. They are connected by blood to Hinaku and Nagi, and by trust and subsequent betrayal to Guzuri. Their collective fate also establishes the initial antagonistic relationship with General Sarutahiko, who personally oversees their destruction. The destruction of the village haunts the narrative, and the legacy of the Dorfbewohner is one of loss and the cyclical nature of violence. While the individual members are not developed beyond their role as a community, their absence drives the development of the survivor Nagi. His journey of revenge against Sarutahiko and eventual complex path to forgiveness is rooted in the annihilation of his people and his home. In a final act of renewal, the theme of forgiveness and rebirth is underscored when Hinaku and Guzuri decide to repopulate and rebuild the destroyed village, ensuring the community is founded anew by their descendants. In terms of abilities, the Dorfbewohner have no special or supernatural powers. They are depicted as ordinary people living in a primitive setting, whose notable attributes are their skills in survival, basic agriculture or fishing, and a deep, practical knowledge of their volcanic island environment, none of which ultimately protect them from the political machinations of the larger world.